VIRSA
Virsa is a word from the Punjabi language which means "heritage," or a community's cultural values and traditions.
Mission Statement
Virsa's mission is to build self-esteem, self-pride, leadership and good citizenship among South Asian youth and families through education, mentoring and outreach.
Who We Are
Virsa is a community based, non-profit organization that was formed in December 2002 by members of the Sikh community who felt an urgent need to launch a response from within the community, to address the escalating level of violence among South Asian youth, primarily related to involvement in gangs and drug trafficking.
The objective of Virsa's programs is to prevent and remedy the challenges that make our youth vulnerable to involvement in drugs and gangs. Our focus is also on coordinating efforts with mainstream support service providers and other institutions to bridge the gap posed by language and cultural barriers, in order to ensure that parents and youth are able to access needed services.
Through unified efforts, Virsa's goal is to build a stronger, healthier South Asian community that can continue to contribute positively to Canadian society.
Please visit their website for more information.
Editors: Sandy Alfonso, Sandra Lenore Gutierrez & Meiko Assoon. Design: William Szilveszter